Troopers recover stolen merchandise and fraudulent checks

Norwalk Reflector Staff
•
Nov 16, 2012 at 9:55 AM

A Pennsylvania man is facing felony charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers uncovered a large amount of construction and building supplies purchased with fraudulent checks, following a traffic stop in Trumbull County.

Troopers stopped a rented 2009 Ford U-Haul truck for a failure to signal a lane change violation on Interstate 80, near milepost 234, at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Criminal indicators were observed and a Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed the construction equipment and building supplies, worth an estimated $8,150, along with receipts and fraudulent blank checks.

The driver, Ephraim E. Barr, 41, of Philadelphia, Pa., was incarcerated in the Trumbull County Jail and charged with receiving stolen property and passing bad checks; both fourth-degree felonies, and possession of criminal tools; a fifth-degree felony. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and up to a $12,500 fine.

The investigation is still ongoing and stores who believe they may have been a victim are urged to call Warren District investigators at (330) 898-0403.